According to new research, cholesterol measures that are frequently used to estimate the risk of heart disease are not equally predictive for Black and White persons.
Low levels of HDL cholesterol, or the “good cholesterol,” are not linked to an increased risk of heart disease in Black people, according to research using data from the Reasons for Geographic and Racial Differences in Stroke Study. However, low HDL levels remained a risk factor for heart disease in White people.
The latest research confirmed mounting evidence that high HDL levels do not reduce the risk of cardiovascular events. This conclusion holds true for both Black and White persons.
According to study author Nathalie Pamir, PhD, “what I hope this type of research establishes is the necessity to reassess the risk-predicting methodology for cardiovascular disease.” It might prevent our doctors from praising us in the future for having greater HDL cholesterol levels.
The blood contains a molecule that resembles fat called cholesterol, which is produced by your body but can also be obtained through food. According to the CDC, heart disease and stroke are two of the leading causes of mortality in the United States, and cholesterol levels are used to estimate risks of developing these conditions. High cholesterol has no symptoms, and the only way to determine it is to have a medical specialist examine it.
LDL, or “bad” cholesterol, is still a valid indicator of heart health for both Black and White people, according to the most recent research study, which was published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.
23,901 participants were monitored for the study. They were all at least 45 years of age, and 58% of them were white. They were followed for 10 years before the trial began and did not have a heart disease diagnosis.
